Fluid operated coating and drying machine

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided for painting or otherwise treating solid articles or parts with a liquid and subsequently removing excess liquid, comprising a container for the articles or parts, a tank for containing the liquid, means for dipping the container and articles to immerse the articles in the liquid, and means for retracting the container from the liquid and spinning the container to remove excess liquid and drying while the container and articles are within the confines of the tank. All functions are accomplished by air-operated or other fluid means and controlled by valves actuated by an air-operated fluidic circuit, and in the complete absence of any electrical circuits, thereby avoiding any danger of explosion by ignition of the liquid which might be caused by an electrical spark.

United States Patent Fulton 51 May 2,1972

[54] FLUID OPERATED COATING AND DRYING MACHINE [72] Inventor: Wayne F. Fulton, Moorepark, Mich.

Spring Tools Corporation, Schoolcraft, Mich.

[22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 87,926

[73] Assignee:

[52] U.S. Cl ..ll8/6, 34/58,118/7,

3,262,420 7/1966 Bossi et al ..1l8/57 3,269,633 8/1966 Bernier et al ....1 18/54 X 3,382,844 5/1968 Kumpf ..1 18/425 X 3,431,887 3/1969 Pettigrew et a1. ..1 18/1 1 3,446,266 5/1969 Watts et a]. .118/56 X 3,568,632 3/1971 Cawthon ..1 18/49 Primary Examiner-Morris Kaplan AtlorneyRoy A. Plant 57 ABSTRACT An apparatus is provided for painting or otherwise treating solid articles or parts with a liquid and subsequently removing excess liquid, comprising a container for the articles or parts, a tank for containing the liquid, means for dipping the container and articles to immerse the articles in the liquid, and means for retracting the container from the liquid and spinning the container to remove excess liquid and drying while the con- {56] References Cited tainer and articles are within the confines of the tank. All UNITED STATES PATENTS functions are accomplished by air-operated or other fluid means and controlled by valves actuated by an air-operated 2,387,299 10/1945 Ronc ..l18/54 fluidic circuit, and in the complete absence f any electrical 2387300 10/1945 Roncl 118/52 circuits, thereby avoiding any danger of explosion by ignition 2,419,260 4/1947 Goodkme 18/54 of the liquid which might be caused by an electrical spark. 3,200,788 8/1965 Tardoskegyi.. .118/54 X 3,227,135 1/1966 Brooks ..1 18/421 X 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures fl I l l 7! g i l I 57 a? l p w 4 l 20 M5 li 2a 9 /i g g n 20' Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,550

7 Sheets-Sheet l l i l t 55 I 1 A 5 o /5& fl #7 w o ,,/4

HIV 45 27 26' a Z i E 20 I INVENTOR WAYNE F. F'ULTON CR LLQTM FIG, 1

ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,550

7 Sheets-Sheet r.

INVENTOR WAYNE F. FULTON CRQCLOM ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,550

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INV ENTOR WAYNE F. FULTON BY Q QGM ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1972 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

FIG. 4 INVENTOR WAYNE F. FULTON BY CR CLW ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1972 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 92 INVENTOR WAYNE F. FULTON BY CR QW ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1972 '7 Sheets-Sheet '1' ON MmD23 u OP BY %%i FLUID OPERATED COATING AND DRYING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention deals broadly with an apparatus for dipping articles such as parts in a liquid and subsequently removing excess liquid and/or drying the parts.

Machines for dipping articles in a liquid and subsequently removing excess liquid and drying are known in the art. For example, U. S. Pat. No. 2,387,299, issued Oct. 23, 1945, to F. M. Ronci, discloses an apparatus wherein articles are placed in a wire basket, immersed in a tank containing a liquid such as paint, and the basket removed from the liquid and spun until the effect of centrifugal force has removed the excess liquid. Although the apparatus disclosed is generally suitable for many applications, it is operated by an electric motor and controlled by electrical circuits, and therefore presents a danger of explosion when utilizing a highly inflammable treatment liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for coating articles with a liquid such as paint, and subsequently removing excess liquid and drying the articles by spinning the container therefor at a high rate of speed.

It is a further object to provide an apparatus of the type described wherein the spinning of the container is accomplished by power means not utilizing an electrical circuit.

It is further an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the type described wherein the operations of immersing the container of parts and subsequently removing them from the liquid is accomplished by non-electrically operated power means.

It is still further an object to provide an apparatus wherein the starting, stopping and cycling of the various functions are accomplished by non-electrical operating and actuating means.

It is still further an object to provide an apparatus of the type described which can be produced less expensively than apparatus of the type disclosed in the art.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the useful apparatus herein fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, such disclosed embodiments illustrating, however, but several of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus with the upper door open.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly broken away.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, with the container indicated by broken lines positioned in the tank but above the liquid level.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly broken away, with the tank lowered to its rest position.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line VI-VI of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line VII-VII of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line VIH-VIII of FIG. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the fluidic control circuit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus of the invention is shown comprising a housing 10 formed of a bottom plate 11, side panels 12 and 13, a partial front panel 14 comprising an upper panel 15 and lateral flanges 16 and 17, and triangular supports or gussetv plates 18 and 19 welded to the bottom plate and lateral flanges 16 and 17.

Mounted on the lateral panel 17 by means of hinges 20 is a lower and outer door 25. The lower door 25 is maintained in place by means of latch assemblies 26 engaging retaining members 27. The retaining members 27 are affixed to the lateral panel 16. A pair of check cylinders 28 and 29 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) having shafts 30 and 31 are mounted at one end on the lower door 25. An upper or inner door 32 is slidably mounted behind the lower door 25 and is supported by lateral guides 33 and 34 mounted on the housing 10, and additionally by guides 36 and 37 mounted on the lower door 25 (FIG. 7). A lateral ledge 35 is mounted at the upper edge of the upper door 32 and is positioned to be engaged by the shafts 30 and 31.

A conventional air motor 40 is spring mounted on the top panel 41 of the housing 10 by means of vertical bolts 42 and spring 43 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). A dust cover 56 is provided over the spring mounting arrangement. The motor 40 is provided with a vertical shaft extension 44 coupled to the motor 40 and extending through an opening 45 in the panel 41. Air for the operation of the motor is provided from a main providing compressed air at a pressure of about 80 pounds per square inch, and reduced to the desired pressure through conventional reduction valve means, with the air passed through a filter having a porosity of from about 20 to 40 microns for purification of the air. The air supplied to the motor is further controlled by a valve assembly 54 connected to the motor by means of air hoses 55. Operation of the valve assembly 54 is controlled by means of a fluidic control system housed in a control box 141 (FIG. 1), to be discussed in greater detail below. A muffler 78 reduces the noise of the air stream. The air supply to the motor and lift cylinders is first passed through a lubricator in order to inject a small amount of a lubricant. A tubular vent 87 is provided for venting vapors and fumes from the interior of the housing 14. The air is further reduced in pressure by a conventional pressure control unit 143 and further purified by means of a 0.3 micron filter, and supplied to the fluidic control apparatus in the control box 141 through hose 142.

As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, a basket mounting assembly 46 is mounted on the shaft extension 44 and comprises a collar 47 having an axial channel 48 into which the shaft extension 44 extends. The collar 47 is rotatively afiixed to the shaft extension 44 by means of a key 49 mounted in-slots in the shaft 44 and collar 47 (FIG. 6). A circular basket supporting plate 59 is affixed to the collar 47 by means of triangular supports or gusset plates 60. The basket mounting assembly is axially affixed to the shaft extension 44 by means of a bolt 52 and washer 53 (FIG. 6), the bolt extending through an opening provided in the spinner platform 59 and threadedly engaged in an axial opening provided in the shaft extension. The spinner platform 59 is provided with ways 64 and 65 affixed to the platform 59 by means of bolts A basket 67 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) is provided for containing the articles which are to be treated. The basket is formed of a frame comprising an upper rim 68, a top plate 76 welded thereto, a lower rim 69, and interconnecting webs 70. A pair of trunnion pins 71 are affixed to two opposite webs to permit the basket to be rotated in a trunnion structure for emptying. The basket is also provided with a cylindrical screen side wall 72 and a screen bottom 73. Rails 74 and 75 are affixed to the top plate 76 and positioned to engage the ways 64 and 65, respectively, of the spinner platform 59. Locking bolts 52 are mounted on the basket mounting assembly 46 to lock the basket in place.

Mounted to thebase'll and to a semi-cylindrical rear wall 80 of the housing 10 is a vertically positioned channel or U- beam 81 (FIGS. 3, 6, 7 and 8). The channel 81 serves as a support and guide for the apparatus used in supporting, raising, and lowering the tank of paint with which the articles are to be treated. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 the lifting mechanism comprises a lift platform 82 having slots 83 and 84 provided therein to permit the tynes 85 and 86 of a lift truck 88 to be inserted therein for removing a tank of paint or other liquid used to treat the articles (see FIGS. and 8). The lift platform 82 is supported by a frame comprising a boomerangshaped primary supporting member 90 having an offset end 103, a straight edge portion of the supporting member 90 being affixed to the lift platform. The supporting frame additionally comprises transverse frame members 91 and 92. The primary supporting member 90 is positioned within a vertical slot 93 provided on the rear face of the channel 81. The primary supporting member 90 is guided on the channel by means of a carriage arrangement of wheels 94 and 95 mounted on shafts 96 and 104 affixed to support plates 97 and 98, respectively, and spaced therefrom by means of spacers 99 and 100. The wheels 94 and 95 are provided with flanges 101 and 102, respectively, to maintain the wheels in position on the U-beam (FIG. 8). On the inside of the housing the supporting member 90 is provided with a second set of wheels 106 and 107 having annular grooves 108 and 109, respectively, provided therein. The grooves engage the free edges 108 and 109 of the channel and maintain the wheels in position. The wheels are mounted by means of shafts 110 and 116 mounted on support plates 111 and 112 respectively, and spaced apart therefrom by means of spacers 113 and 114. A tank 1 is shown supported on the lift platform 82 in FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8.

Movement of the lift platform is provided by a double air operated cylinder arrangement comprising cylinders 120 and 121 having pistons therein (not shown) affixed to shafts 122 and 123. The cylinder 120 is conveniently an 18-inch in length cylinder and the cylinder 121 is conveniently a 14-inch in length cylinder. As a result of this arrangement, the 14-inch cylinder 121 can be separately actuated to provide an intermediate position of the lift platform 82, in which position the articles to be treated are suspended in a position for spinning out of the liquid treating agent but still within the confines of the tank. The shaft 123 is provided at its end with a trunnion fitting 124 and pivotally affixed to the offset end 103 of the primary supporting member 90 by means of a pin 125 passing through an opening in the plate end 103. A trunnion bracket 126 is affixed at the upper end of the U-beam 81 and is connected to a fitting 127 affixed to the end of the shaft 122 by means of a pin 132 passing through an opening in the fitting 127. Air hose fittings 128, 129, 130 and 131 are provided for operating the cylinders 120 and 121.

In order to close the upper door 32 automatically when the lift platform 82 rises, a bracket 133 is provided on the door 32 having an adjustment screw 134 mounted thereon, the screw being adapted to be engaged by a tab 135 mounted on the lift platform 82. When the upper door 32 is in closed position, it is latched by means of a manually operated latch 136, which engages the ledge 35. The door is released by manually operating the latch. Alternatively, the latch may be automatically operated.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, automatic operation of the various functions of the apparatus is obtained by means of an automatic fluidic control circuit housed in a control box 141, shown in FIG. 1. Air for operating the fluidic control is provided by an air inlet 142 operating through the pressure control unit 143 monitored by a meter 144. Air from the fluidic modules is vented through a muffler 145. Signal output in the form of air impulses are transmitted to the various valved functions of the apparatus by air hoses 146. In order to facilitate the removal of the basket.67, the apparatus is provided with stationary internal ways 150 and 151 supported by brackets 152 and 153, respectively, and lateral supports 158 and'159 (FIG. 6) mounted on the housing 10, and external ways 154 and 155 mounted on brackets 156 and 157 affixed to the upper plate 15 of the housing 10 (FIG. 1).

The fluidic circuit utilized in controlling automatically the operations of the apparatus of the invention is shown in FIG. 9 and it will be described in conjunction with its operation.

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION To place the apparatus of the present invention in operation, the latches 26 are released and the door 25 opened. At the start of the operation cycle, the pistons of the cylinders 120 and 121 are both fully extended, placing the platform 82 in its lowermost position. In this position, a tank 115 of paint, degreasing fluid, or any other liquid may be positioned on the platform 82 by means of. the lift truck 88, whose fork tines 85 and 86 are designed to place the tank on the platform and then to be lowered through the slots 83 and 84. The articles or parts to be coated or otherwise treated are placed in the basket 67 and the basket positioned on the basket mounting assembly 46. The rails 74 and 75 of the basket are engaged by the ways 64 and 65 of the mounting assembly 46. The basket is secured in place by lowering the locking bolts 52.

For the sake of clarity, the components of the fluidic system will be designated in terms of both reference numerals and their commonly used designations. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 9, the operation of the apparatus is initiated by depressing the start push button (P81). This produces output on the port 02 of a backpressure switch 172 (BS3) and an input on the port C3 of an inhibited-OR module 173 (I01). The input C3 on the module 173 produces an output on the port 01 of the module 173, which output in turn produces an input on port C4 of both preferenced flip-flop modules 174 (PFl) and 175 (PF2). Input C4 also produces an output to be applied to ports 02 of both modules 174 and 175, which in turn produce an input on port C1 of both digital amplifiers 176 DAl) and 177 (DA2). Input C1 produces an output on port 01 of both digital amplifiers 176 and 177. Output 01 of the digital amplifier 172 is then interfaced with the pneumatic system to actuate a conventional four-way two-position valve with dual fluidic operators 190 to produce a retract condition of the 14- inch lift cylinder 121. Output 01 of the digital amplifier 177 is interfaced with the pneumatic system to actuate dual fluidic operators 192 to produce a retract condition of the. 1 8-inch lift cylinder 120. As the platform 82 is raised by the retraction of the two cylinders, the tap 135 engages the bolt 134 of the bracket 133 and lifts the upper door 32 until the ledge 35 is engaged by the latch 136. Additionally, at the uppermost position of the lift platform 82, the articles or parts in the basket 67 are fully immersed in the paint or other liquid contained in the tank 115. Additionally, when the lift cylinders 120 and 121 are fully retracted, the platform 82 reaches its fully elevated position and actuates a limit switch 172 (LS2) which is mounted at the uppermost point of lift platform travel. The limit switch 178 produces an output on the port 02 of a backpressure switch 179 (BS2). The output 02 produces an input at port IN of a timer module 180 (T2) and begins the timing interval of the timer, which interval is adjustable by means of a fluidic variable restrictor 181 (VR2). The timer 180 determines the dwell period or time interval during which the articles or parts remain immersed in the paint or other liquid. At the end of the preset time interval, an output pulse appears at the port 04 of the timer 180 which produces an input at port C3 of the preferenced flip-flop 174. The output at port 01 produces an input at the port C2 of the digital amplifier 177, producing an output at 02 of the digital amplifier 176 which, through interfacing, actuates the valve and causes the l4-inch lift cylinder to extend, thereby partially lowering the platform. The extension of the l4-inch lift cylinder 121 is arranged to actuate a limit switch 182 (LS1) at the cylinders point of full extension, which produces an output at a port 02 of a backpressure switch 183 (BS1). Port 01 of the backpressure switch 183 is off at this point. Output 02 of the backpressure switch 183 produces an input at port IN of a timer 184 (T1) and also at port C2 of the inhibited-OR module 173. Input C2 will inhibit the inhibited-OR module 173 from producing an output at port 01. Input IN starts the timer interval of the timer 184, the time interval of which may be controlled by a variable restrictor 185 (VRl The input IN also produces an output at port 01 of the timer 184 for the duration of the time interval. Output 01 produces an input at C3 of the inhibited-OR module 186 (I02). Input C3 produces an output at port 01 of the inhibited-OR module 186, which in turn produces an input at port C2 of a digital amplifier 187 (DA3). Input C2 produces an output at 02 which through suitable interfacing actuates a four-way, two-position, fiveported, dual-pressure valve with double fluidic operators 194 and causes the air motor 40 to spin. At the end of the preset time interval of the timer 184, port 01 then goes to an off condition, thus removing the input signal C3 from the inhibited- OR module 186. As a result of removing input C3 output 01 goes to off, and an output signal is present at 02 of the module 186. Output 02 produces an input at C1 of the digital amplifier 187, which produces an output at port 01 of the digital amplifier. Output 01, through interfacing, actuates the valve 194 and produces a braking action in the air motor, thereby gently and quickly nullifying the rotation of the air motor.

In addition, at the end of the preset time interval of the timer 184, an output pulse appears at port 04, producing an input at port C3 of the preferenced flip-flop module 175, which produces an output at port 01 of the module 175. Output 01 produces an input at C2 of the digital amplifier 177, thereby producing an output at 02 of the digital amplifier 177. The output 02 through interfacing then actuates the valve 192 and produces a condition of full extend in 18-inch lift cylinder 120. The latch 136 may then be manually opened. The door 32 is permitted to drop, the motion being restrained through action of the check cylinders 28 and 29. The basket may now be released by disengaging the bolts 52 and the basket removed. In removing the basket, the rails 74 and 75 may be caused to engage the ways 150 and 151, and subsequently 154 and 155. A specially designed hoist may then be utilized having a trunnion which engages the trunnion pins 71, sustaining the basket after it has been disengaged from the ways 154 and 155. Since the trunnion pins 71 are mounted just immediately above the center of gravity of the basket, the basket may be readily tilted to dump out the articles or parts which have been treated.

The apparatus of the invention has a number of advantages over apparatus designed for similar purposes. The primary advantage is that an air-operated motor is utilized for spinning the basket to remove excess liquid instead of an electrical motor. The use of the air-operated motor removes all danger of fire or explosion which might result by sparking within an electrical system. Additionally, a double-acting cylinder assembly is utilized for raising and lowering the platform on which the liquid tank is placed, thereby permitting three different positions to be obtained, one where the articles to be treated are immersed in the liquid within the tank, a second wherein the articles are removed from the liquid but suspended within the tank, and a third where the articles and basket are completely removed from the tank. Furthermore, this is accomplished by air-operated cylinders which remove any hazard of explosion. The operation of the apparatus is made almost entirely automatic while still operating the apparatus in the absence of electrical current by the use of a fluidic control circuit which times and actuates the various functions and stages of the entire cycle of operation.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention, as herein defined and illustrated. It is further to be noted that while directional tenns have been used, same are not to be construed as limitations of the invention since such use has been availed of to better describe the invention as illustrated in the drawings.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed, instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the apparatus herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus for treating articles with a liquid and subsequently removing the excess liquid therefrom which comprises:

a. a housing,

b. a fluid operated motor mounted on said housing having a vertically mounted rotatable shaft,

c. a foraminous container adapted to contain said articles,

d. means detachably mounting said container to said shaft for being rotated thereby,

e. vertically movable platform means for supporting a liquid receptacle within said housing,

f. means for vertically moving said platform, whereby said foraminous container may be loaded with parts, mounted on said shaft, and brought together with respect to said liquid container to permit said parts to be immersed in the liquid contained therein, said foraminous container then removed from said liquid and rotated by said fluid operated motor to remove excess fluid from said articles centrifugally, and subsequently further separated from said liquid container and detached from said supporting means to discharge said articles,

g. said housing being provided with a door hingedly mounted thereon and comprising a lower door, latch means for securing said door in closed position, an upper door slidably mounted at the inner surface of said lower door, said lower door having guide means slidably retaining said upper door, and check cylinders mounted on said lower door having the shafts thereof connected to the upper edge of said upper door, whereby lowering of said upper door is partially restrained to permit said door to be lowered gently to its lowermost position;

h. said platform being provided with a tab and said upper door having an adjustable bracket adapted to be engaged by said tab, whereby raising of said platform causes said upper door to be raised to the closed position, and latch means for securing said upper door in closed position;

i. secondary ways disposed at the upper portion of said housing and aligned with ways comprising said mounting to permit said foraminous container to slide off said mounting and to be supported outside of said housing; and

j. a fluidic control circuit for raising and lowering said platform, actuating and timing the period of dwell within which said articles remain immersed in said liquid, and actuating and timing the period during which said foraminous container is rotated.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fluid is air.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for moving the platform comprises a double-acting fluid cylinder operating assembly mounted at one end to said housing and at the other end operatively connected to said platform, and means for individually actuating at least one of said cylinders, whereby said platform may be raised to an intermediate position.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a channel beam mounted therein, said platform being mounted on said beam, and said means for moving said platform includes a carriage mounted for travel up and down said channel beam.

5. A fluidic circuit according to claim 1, wherein said fluidic circuit includes a push button switch for actuating said circuit, a timer module for determining the dwell time of said articles in said liquid, a second timer for determining the duration of 'the spin portion of the cycle, an inhibited-OR module cooperating with a digital amplifier to actuate a valve providfier and actuated by said second timer for actuating said second fluid-operated cylinder for raising and lowering said platform to the full up or down positions.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said fluid is air. 

1. An apparatus for treating articles with a liquid and subsequently removing the excess liquid therefrom which comprises: a. a housing, b. a fluid operated motor mounted on said housing having a vertically mounted rotatable shaft, c. a foraminous container adapted to contain said articles, d. means detachably mounting said container to said shaft for being rotated thereby, e. vertically movable platform means for supporting a liquid receptacle within said housing, f. means for vertically moving said platform, whereby said foraminous container may be loaded with parts, mounted on said shaft, and brought together with respect to said liquid container to permit said parts to be immersed in the liquid contained therein, said foraminous container then removed from said liquid and rotated by said fluid operated motor to remove excess fluid from said articles centrifugally, and subsequently further separated from said liquid container and detached from said supporting means to discharge said articles, g. said housing being provided with a door hingedly mounted thereon and comprising a lower door, latch means for securing said doOr in closed position, an upper door slidably mounted at the inner surface of said lower door, said lower door having guide means slidably retaining said upper door, and check cylinders mounted on said lower door having the shafts thereof connected to the upper edge of said upper door, whereby lowering of said upper door is partially restrained to permit said door to be lowered gently to its lowermost position; h. said platform being provided with a tab and said upper door having an adjustable bracket adapted to be engaged by said tab, whereby raising of said platform causes said upper door to be raised to the closed position, and latch means for securing said upper door in closed position; i. secondary ways disposed at the upper portion of said housing and aligned with ways comprising said mounting to permit said foraminous container to slide off said mounting and to be supported outside of said housing; and j. a fluidic control circuit for raising and lowering said platform, actuating and timing the period of dwell within which said articles remain immersed in said liquid, and actuating and timing the period during which said foraminous container is rotated.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fluid is air.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for moving the platform comprises a double-acting fluid cylinder operating assembly mounted at one end to said housing and at the other end operatively connected to said platform, and means for individually actuating at least one of said cylinders, whereby said platform may be raised to an intermediate position.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a channel beam mounted therein, said platform being mounted on said beam, and said means for moving said platform includes a carriage mounted for travel up and down said channel beam.
 5. A fluidic circuit according to claim 1, wherein said fluidic circuit includes a push button switch for actuating said circuit, a timer module for determining the dwell time of said articles in said liquid, a second timer for determining the duration of the spin portion of the cycle, an inhibited-OR module cooperating with a digital amplifier to actuate a valve providing air to said motor, a dual fluid-operated cylinder assembly comprising first and second cylinders, a preferenced flip-flop and digital amplifier actuated by said first timer adapted to actuate said first fluid-operated cylinder for raising or lowering said platform to an intermediate position, and a second preferenced flip-flop module cooperating with a digital amplifier and actuated by said second timer for actuating said second fluid-operated cylinder for raising and lowering said platform to the full up or down positions.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said fluid is air. 